PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French industrial and medical gases maker Air Liquide SA (AIQUY.PK) Friday said its third-quarter revenue edged up 1 percent, amid good momentum in the Americas and Asia-Pacific. The company, however, witnessed slowdown in Western European manufacturing. On a comparable basis, revenues grew 4.3 percent.
Air Liquide confirmed that it is confident in its ability to deliver another year of net profit growth in 2014.
For the third quarter, the firm posted revenues of 3.80 billion euros. The quarterly change on a comparable basis exclude currency, natural gas and significant M&A impacts.
Gas & Services sales edged up 0.1 percent on a reported basis and grew 3.6 percent on a comparable basis to 3.45 billion euros, in line with the second quarter trend.
On a comparable basis, all Gas & Services business lines grew in the recent quarter. Large Industries improved 3.6 percent, benefited from start-ups and ramp-ups of new units and sustained demand for air gases and hydrogen in the developing economies of Asia-Pacific, particularly China.
For Industrial Merchant, revenue rose 1.8 percent on a comparable basis. In Electronics, the growth was 11.7 percent, driven mainly by higher sales of specialty gases in the U.S., and in Asia.
Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO, said, 'In a more contrasted economic environment, the 3rd quarter was marked by good momentum in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, by vigorous revenue growth in developing economies of more than +15 percent on a comparable basis, and by another slowdown in Western European manufacturing.'
Healthcare revenue, increased 3.5 percent, with progressed across all regions.
Revenues from Engineering and Technology climbed 18.0 percent on a comparable basis, as a result of progress made on projects underway for third-party customers.
In Paris, Air Liquide shares closed Thursday's trading at 93.76 euros, up 1.54 percent.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX